The ruling Georgian Dream party, which is promoting the controversial bill, announced an upcoming protest action, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 20.00 local time on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
In Georgia, opponents of the law on foreign agents held a new rally on April 28 in the square in front of parliament. In the second reading, the bill could be adopted as early as April 30. This was reported on Sunday, April 28 by Echo of the Caucasus (Radio Liberty project).
The action took place under the slogan “No to Russian law!” Yes to Europe.”
It is indicated that the protest action was organized by the non-governmental sector and youth organizations. They were joined by representatives of the opposition, social activists and ordinary citizens.
News Georgia reports that clashes began in Tbilisi between protesters against the law on foreign agents and security forces outside the Georgian parliament building.
During the clashes, security forces used tear gas on the protesters. A police car with a water cannon also arrived at the parliament square, but so far it has not been used. Special forces were spotted near the parliament building.
Representatives of the pro-government Georgian Dream reported that they were preparing for a retaliatory action. In particular, member of the parliamentary majority Mamuka Mdinaradze said that, according to preliminary data, on April 29, an unprecedented number of citizens will gather on the central Rustaveli Avenue to support the bill “on the transparency of foreign influence.”
The authorities expect that more than 100 thousand people will gather for the pro-government rally.
“We invite everyone who values their land, language and faith, national identity, traditions, the present and present European future of their country to join tomorrow’s rally,” called Mdinaradze.
At the same time, opponents of the law on foreign agents called not to interfere with the action organized by the dominant party.
In April, the Georgian parliament passed in the first of three readings the controversial law on foreign agents, limiting the rights of media and organizations receiving funding from abroad.
Such organizations will be required to file a financial return annually, and those who attempt to evade registration or fail to file a return will face a fine. To identify “agents of foreign influence” and verify compliance with the requirements of the law, the Ministry of Justice will conduct monitoring.
Critics of the bill consider it an analogue of the Russian one, but Georgian authorities say they have nothing in common.